I recently took a girls’ trip to Santa Fe, NM. It is a great place to spend a few days with friends! It has amazing Pueblo-style architecture with surrounding mountains, lots of outdoor activities, and is known for its arts and entertainment scene. We spent four nights there and it was a good amount of time, but I also think three would be enough. There is a lot to see and do, and I’ll detail out our favorites in this post!
Santa Fe – Eat!
Santa Fe is an impressive and distinct food city and we had amazing food and drink experiences there. Noting some of our favorite spots!
Where we ate and drank:
La Reina
For happy hour / live music. This place was had the best vibe and is a must-stop!
Geronimo
Geronimo was hands-down our favorite restaurant. It’s in a historic territorial-Style hacienda adobe, with Santa Fe historical touches combined with a minimalist decor. There are a number of signature dishes and the menu changes with the seasons, offering global eclectic cuisine with a French-inspired focus
Izamami
Izamami is the restaurant at Ten Thousand Waves spa (more on that below). The restaurant is a must for a sushi lunch. The setting alone – and that view – are to die for.
Opunita
Loved this for lunch, so much so that we ate there twice! This is over in the Railyard area which is a great spot to walk around. Really great vibe, as well, with a perfect indoor-outdoor dining space.
La Boca
La Boca is a small, cozy spot with amazing Spanish tapas and wines. This is another one that needs to be on your list. The chef, James Campbell Caruso, is an eight time James Beard Award nominee. The menu is a small-plate sharing menu that features a modern re-invention of classic Spanish cuisine with a preference for fresh and local ingredients. Get the paella – it was amazing.
The Anasazi Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
This restaurant was simply fabulous. It is inside Rosewoods’s Inn of the Anasazi. Dining there was a true experience – one of those dinners that goes on for hours but is well-timed and perfectly serviced. The food was flawless, and they had an impressive wine list.
Henry and the Fish
A well-located grab-and-go breakfast and coffee spot with fresh food, juices and smoothies. They also have light lunch options. We ended up stopping here every day to grab one thing or another.
Zaclatan
Zaclatan is a newer hotspot in Santa Fe, located in a house tucked away on Aztec Street, in the Santa Fe Railyard District. The food is a delicious fusion of Mexican and Southwestern cuisines, and the space is intimate and inviting.
Ahmyo Wine
This is a happy hour spot for wine – it’s conveniently located on Canyon Road near all the gallieries, so makes a great day stop. It is also well-located for dinner on the way to Geronimo). Many wine spots, like Ahymo, feature only local New Mexico wines, and I found the local whites much better than the reds.
Other places we didn’t get to , but were on our list:
Modern General Feed and Seed – grab-and-go breakfast/lunch
Santa Fe Cafe – lunch in the courtyard
Dolina Santa Fe – bakery and breakfast
Sazon Santa Fe – another James Beard award spot
Restaurant Martin – dinner
Compound – another with a long list of awards, good for lunch or dinner
Santa Fe – Stay
We first stayed at Rosewood’s Inn of the Anasazi, It is really centrally located in town in a perfect spot. The decor has a luxury southwest vibe. With any Rosewood, expect the same upscale amenities. We loved our short time there – it felt liky such an elegant and cozy retreat.
We also stayed at the Inn and Spa at Loretto. I was not a fan of the second hotel. The rooms were really dark and needed an update. That said, the price point is different enough from the Inn of the Anasazi that it is a good second option. It also had a good breakfast spot and other notable amenities.
Santa Fe – See & Do
There is a lot to see in Santa Fe.
What we loved:
Ten Thousand Waves
I have to start with Ten Thousand Waves. This is an amazing Japanese resort and spa that you’ll just love being at! I had one of the better massages of my life here, followed by great amenities like a hot and cold plunge, a foot bath, relaxation pool and sauna.
Georgia O’Keefe Museum
The O’Keefe museum was quick and easy and was an in-town stop we enjoyed. She was a fascinating person and I liked learning about her so much that if we had more time I would have driven to tour Ghost Ranch, O’Keefe’s home, outside of town.
Canyon Road Art Galleries and Shops
A must do! You can spend a day walking up and down Canyon Road and going in and out of the art galleries and shops. On weekends there is often live music along the way, as well.
Site Santa Fe
Site is a very cool modern art museum. It was under construction when we were there and it was limited in exhibits, but I’m adding it to the list anyway for next time!
The Cross of Martyrs
Santa Fe is a great place to walk around, but also has some incredible hikes. Many of the hikes we found were outside of town, but the Cross of Martyrs is an in-town scenic overlook and quick hike with incredible views of Santa Fe. It’s a network of paved switchbacks that winds up a hillside , and along the way, you can view a storyline around the city’s rich history with the Cross of Martyrs sitting atop the hill.
Meow Wolf
If you don’t know about Meow Wolf, it’s going to be very difficult to wrap your head around this one! It’s very one-of-a-kind psychadelic and immersive art installation with multimedia elements and a narrative (that we found hard to follow) throughout. It’s very cool. but it’s a LOT and I think it kind of has to be your type of thing to appreciate it (and it wasn’t mine!). That said, I’m glad I experienced it.
Kakawa Chocolate House
The Railyard
The Railyard is an area of town that has a lot to offer – there are lots of shops, and breweries, and places to eat including our favorite lunch spot (Optuna, above). The Railyard also hosts a mercado on weekends where you can shop for local goods.
Margarita Train Ride
The margarita train ride was something we had to check off the list, and it had some great moments! The ride is about a 2+ hour ride outside the city, with outdoor riding space to see the great vistas. We did feel the ride was a bit long, so consider yourself warned. But, the golden hour moments – with a margarita in hand – are pretty worth it.
If you travel to Santa Fe, let me know what you loved!
xx—BB
but the most important tip of all? go with the BEST girls! <3
💛